title: Value of systematic transition zone biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated routine transition zone biopsies for the detection of prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic sextant transrectal biopsies, including 2 systematic transition zone biopsies (sextant biopsy group), were performed on 196 consecutive patients. Biopsies were based on indications from digital rectal examination and/or a serum PSA level greater than 4.0 ng/mL. During the same period, 21 patients with persistently elevated PSA levels and earlier negative systematic biopsies also had the sextant biopsy (re-biopsy group). The sextant biopsy group was compared with 124 cases in our previous cancer detection program who had systematic quadrant biopsies targeted to the peripheral zone (quadrant biopsy group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between the sextant and quadrant biopsy groups, the difference in rate of cancer detection was not significant statistically. Of the sextant biopsy group, 64 (33%) demonstrated malignancy, including 9 (4.6%) with cancer found exclusively in the peripheral zone and 55 (28%) both in the peripheral and transition zones. No cancer was found exclusively in the transition zone. Of the re-biopsy group, all 4 cancers (19%) were detected in the transition zone, 2 of them exclusively in the transition zone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine transition zone biopsies did not increase the detection rate of prostate cancer. Systematic transition zone biopsies proved useful to the patients with persistently elevated PSA values and negative results in previous systematic peripheral zone biopsies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishitoya
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D019160:Endosonography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen